Do you know how to safely share the road with semi-trucks? If you’re a licensed driver, you should know how to maneuver around bigger vehicles. Keep these tips in mind next time you’re behind the wheel, and prioritize the safety of yourself, your passengers, and other drivers on the road.
Pass Quickly
Should you need to pass a semi-truck on the road, do so quickly—and always on the left. Semi-trucks have multiple blind spots, and you should try to spend as little time there as possible. A semi’s largest blind spot is on its right side. If you find yourself driving side-by-side with a semi-truck for a long time, speed up safely and get ahead of them so the driver can see you.
Dim Those Brights
If you’re less than one block’s distance away from a semi-truck, dim your brightest headlights. Those high beams can reflect off their mirrors and cause the driver a few seconds of blindness. A blinded truck driver can become a danger to everyone else on the road.
Give Them Space
If a semi-truck gets into an accident with any passenger cars on the road, the passenger car is much more likely to see fatalities than the truck. These accident statistics aren’t meant to frighten you off the road—merely to advise you against getting too close to a semi. When sharing the road with a semi-truck, leave them plenty of space to merge or maneuver as needed.
Always Use Signals
You should be accustomed to using your turn signals, even if there are no semi-trucks on the road. However, when maneuvering around those sizable vehicles, signaling becomes doubly important. If you need to pass a semi-truck, signal your intentions well in advance so the truck driver knows what you’re doing.
Pro Tip:
Need to stop on the interstate, but there’s a semi-truck behind you? Start braking early on, and pull off to the side if you can. Semi-trucks need longer braking distances than passenger cars, so give them adequate time to slow down behind you.
Stay Focused
Keep your phone out of your hands whenever you’re behind the wheel, but especially when you’re sharing the road with a semi-truck. Avoid other non-phone-related distractions as well; don’t fiddle with the radio or turn your head to address a backseat passenger. Keep your eyes on the road and both hands on the steering wheel whenever you’re near a semi-truck.
Many drivers safely share the road with semi-trucks every day. It’s simple to stay safe on the road as long as you respect the size of semi-trucks and give them the room they need.